Regional

11:14 am

Sun October 9, 2011

Food Pantries Running Low

Las Cruces – Homeless shelters and food pantries around New Mexico are reporting that their supplies have reached low levels as more state residents seek help.

Joy Junction, the state's largest emergency homeless shelter in Albuquerque, and El Caldito Soup Kitchen in Las Cruces both say their food supplies are experiencing serious strains due to the region's troubled economy.

Joy Junction founder and CEO, Jeremy Reynalds, said breakfast batters, juice, coffee, sugar, eggs and other breakfast and lunch items have been all but depleted.

Gabe Anaya, vice president of El Caldito, said the kitchen is serving nearly 300 people a day, almost double from just a few years ago. Anaya said the kitchen is seeing more young residents, even college graduates, seeking help because of the bad economy.